Local Weather Today - Saturday 8th September 2012

[OhauitiWeather]

A wet and windy weekend is expected for New Zealand.  Several spring fronts will bring heavy rain and strong winds with them.

The strongest winds are likely to be about central New Zealand today.  Much of the South Island will also see the stronger winds.  Severe gales are expected in these areas.

The North Island will also get in on the stronger winds during the afternoon and evening.

Widespread rain is already falling about the western and upper regions of the South Island.  These areas will continue to see rain, possibly heavy.  Rain will spread about the North Island as we go through the rest of the day.  Pockets of heavy rain are likely about Taranaki and southern Waikato from midday.

Thunderstorms are also possible from midday about the western sections of both islands, but especially from the West Coast to Taranaki.

By WeatherWatch Analyst Howard Joseph
http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/saturdays-national-forecast-21

[OhauitiWeather]

A typical spring weather pattern continues to unsettle the weather across New Zealand for this weekend.

The strongest wind today is likely to be about central New Zealand.  Wellington is already seeing gusts up to 130km/h which has caused problems for flights at Wellington International Airport.  According to their website, most arrivals through the noon hour have been delayed, cancelled or diverted.  Very few of the departures were affected.

Wellington and Wairarapa are expected to see severe gusts of up to 140 km/h in exposed places through to this evening.  Government forecaster MetService, who issued a Strong Wind Warning for these regions, also said that additional gales are likely tonight and early tomorrow.  But additional severe gales are not expected.

Severe gales are also expected from inland Taranaki and the Central Plateau across to central Hawkes Bay.  This includes northern parts of Whanganui and Manawatu.  Gusts up to 120 km/h are possible in exposed areas through the early evening hours.

Severe gales are also expected for Marlborough today.  Gusts up to 130 km/h are possible until late this afternoon, especially about the Marlborough Sounds.

A little further south, severe gales are expected about Canterbury for the next few hours.  Winds gusts to near 120 km/h are also possible about the inland and higher regions of Banks Peninsula for much of today.

MetService has warnings in effect for all of these regions.

The rest of the country will see strong northwest winds that may approach severe gale strength in exposed places.


By WeatherWatch.co.nz Analyst Howard Joseph
http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/severe-gales-target-central-nz

[Te Puke Weather]

Today's high of 19 degrees was recorded in 4 places - Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Napier Hastings.

Today's lowest maximum temperature was 8 degrees and was recorded in 1 place - Reefton.

Town/City   Temp
Kaitaia   18°
Paihia   18°
Russell   18°
Dargaville   17°
Whangarei   18°
Auckland   18°
Whitianga   17°
Thames   18°
Tauranga   17°
Whakatane   17°
Hamilton   17°
Te Kuiti   17°
Taumarunui   15°
Rotorua   14°
Tokoroa   15°
Taupo   14°
New Plymouth   16°
Gisborne   19°
Napier   19°
Hastings   19°
Napier Hastings   19°
Dannevirke   17°
Masterton   18°
Wanganui   18°
Palmerston North   18°
Levin   17°
Paraparaumu   16°
Wellington   15°
Motueka   15°
Nelson   15°
Blenheim   16°
Kaikoura   17°
Reefton   10°
Westport   14°
Greymouth   14°
Hokitika   14°
Milford Sound   12°
Christchurch   18°
Ashburton   17°
Oamaru   17°
Timaru   17°
Mount Cook   11°
Alexandra   15°
Queenstown   13°
Wanaka   14°
Dunedin   17°
Gore   15°
Invercargill   14°
Hanmer Springs   15°
Tuatapere   14°
Riverton   14°
Wyndham   17°
Nightcaps   13°
Winton   15°
Te Anau   13°